“Up to the spring yonder.”
David was about to speak, but thought better of it. When he had filled the wood-box he started for the spring.
“He’s a-goin’ to spile thet gal, sure as eggs,” said the old man, pausing to watch David.
But he whistled cheerfully as he moved toward the cabin. Presently the rattling of pans and a thin shaft of blue smoke from the chimney, a sizzling and spluttering and finally an appetizing odor, announced the preparation of breakfast.
“If they don’t come purty quick,” said Avery, as he came to the doorway and looked toward the spring path, “they’ll be nothin’ left but the smell and what me and Beelzebub can’t eat.”
As he turned to go in, David and Swickey appeared, both laughing. He was carrying both water-pails and she was skipping ahead of him.
“Pop, we seen some fresh b’ar tracks nigh the spring.”
“You did, hey?”
“Yip. Big uns. We follered ’em for a spell, goin’ back into the swamp.”
“Huh! Was you calc’latin’ to bring him back alive, mebby?”